Leitrim Holiday Homes, Attractions & Activities

Looking for self catering holiday homes in beautiful County Leitrim. Rent a holiday home from West Coast Holidays and enjoy all of the attractions and activities that Leitrim has to offer.

Nature and Wildlife

Glencar WaterfallGlencar Waterfall is particularly impressive after rain and can be viewed from a lovely wooded walk. There are more waterfalls visible from the road, although none is quite as romantic as this one.

There are also on-site picnic facilities and an information kiosk.

Museums and Attractions

Cavan & Leitrim RailwayThe Cavan and Leitrim Railway was one of the busiest of Ireland’s narrow-gauge railways.

The story of the railway also combines that of this little known part of Ireland and its people. Locals were devoted to the Cavan and Leitrim Railway and it was this devotion which enabled the line to cope successfully with coal traffic.

This magnificently restored narrow gauge railway offers the visitor a chance to experience the age of steam transport. The railway brings you back through time to an era when our ancestors travelled through the unspoiled landscapes of Leitrim.

An extensive and nostalgic collection of steam, diesel trains, rolling stock and vintage buses allow you to trace the history of the Irish narrow gauge railway system. Diesel and rail cars run on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

Kinlough Folk MuseumDedicated to keeping alive the memory of the quaint rural lifestyle of the Irish Midlands, this traditional old country house contains an original public bar, authentic kitchen complete with open fire and original utensils, with displays that include farming implements, tools and other historic items.

The kitchen conjures up the atmosphere of those bygone days when the fire really was the heart of the house.

The museum is located on main street.

Manorhamilton Castle and Heritage CentreManorhamilton Castle around which the town of Manorhamilton grew has a dramatic and colourful history, stories of which live on in the town to this day.

The Castle overlord Sir Frederick Hamilton was to become a bye-word for cruelty down the centuries as a result of his brutality in suppressing uprisings led by the O’Rourke Chieftains whose land he had seized.

On display is a permanent exhibition including artefacts from the 17th century, replica period costumes, furniture, a Castle model and other interesting items and information.

Manorhamilton Castle and Heritage Centre is open all the year round to the general public and to organised tours. A tour of the recently restored Castle ruins and grounds can be taken, conducted by an experienced and informative guide.

Fenagh Visitors CentreFenagh Visitors Centre, in County Leitrim, has an indoor soft play centre, coffee shop and heritage centre. Bring the children in and let them play in the soft play area while you relax with a cup of coffee or learn about the history of Fenagh through the wonderful array of pictures which adorn the walls of the visitors centre.

Explanations, photographs, descriptions and maps can be viewed in the heritage centre of Fenagh’s rich history. There is also a selection of photographs and other items are available to purchase.

The visitor centre features the cosy Dolmen café which offers a selection of refreshments and tasty snacks. Sit down and enjoy a freshly brewed tea or coffee in the friendly and relaxed surroundings. There is a selection of hot and cold refreshments to suit all tastes and ages including soft drinks, soup, sandwiches, toasties, wraps and a children’s menu.

Children will be entertained in the Monks Den, an indoor soft play area. The space is based on a monastery theme over three tiers. There is a specially designed and segregated toddler area. The monks den is also available for children’s parties and other special occasions. Contact a member of staff for more details.

The centre is also available for conferences and meetings. With state of the art facilities which can accommodate up to 30 people for training or meeting purposes. The centre has ISDN connection to the internet and facilities for computer based and other forms of training and courses and is available outside normal opening hours.

St. George’s Heritage and Visitor Centre
St George’s Heritage and Visitor Centre is located in St George’s Church and Carrick Workhouse, Carrick On Shannon County Leitrim.

The restored church, houses a well researched and exciting historical display of artefacts and interpretive material and audio visual displays depicting the traditions of Leitrim from ancient Gaelic roots through Plantation times up to Leitrim’s contribution and sacrifice in the Great War. This is seen in the context of Carrick on Shannon development as a town; and the minimal but historically accurate restoration of the Workhouse Attic, in which it is reported that 1896 poor souls deaths were recorded. The workhouse is adjacent to the Fairline Graveyard of Remembrance.

Workhouse Attic Memorial
From the St. George’s Heritage and Visitor Centre on Main Street – which also houses an interesting display and DVD show on local history – follow the brass plaque trail to the Workhouse Attic Memorial.

Introductory displays recall the role of the workhouse during the Famine era.

Some 1896 Famine victims were recorded as living in these small, whitewashed quarters. A famine graveyard in the grounds is another legacy of this poignant chapter of Irish history.

The adjacent Reading Room provides an opportunity to look through reproduced copies of the Carrick Workhouse Board of Guardian’s Minute Books (1843 – 1850) and to browse other evocative items of interest, including a selection of local emigration records.

Access to the Workhouse Attic and Reading Room is by guided tour and can also be arranged with the St. George’s Heritage & Visitor Centre staff.

Sliabh An Iarainn Visitor Centre
Sliabh an Iarainn Visitor Centre provides audio-visual displays about the Arigna and the Sliabh an Iarainn mountains’ area, in Drumshanbo County Leitrim, with special emphasis on the railway, the canal, lakes, iron and coal mining.

The audio-visual show, lasting twelve minutes, takes visitors through the sights and scenes of lakes, mountains and towns, highlighting the beauty of this land of legend and wonder.

The Centre also has a display depicting miners at work and a reconstruction of a sweat house which was used in olden times as a cure for aches and pains. The Cavan and Leitrim railway era is recalled through the recreation of a typical waiting room, railway ticket and many fine pictures of the railway.

Glenview Folk Museum
The private collection at Glenview Folk Museum, in Ballinamore County Leitrim, hosts an impressive display of over 6000 antique, historical and novel items from pre famine Ireland. It includes an array of farmyard equipment, a street scene with a variety of shops including a pub. The collection also contains collections of Tradesmen’s tools, household items, churns, lamps, coins and war memorabilia.

Guided tours are given. All sizes of groups are catered for. There is coach and car parking, as well as a restaurant and bar on site.

Public Sculpture

Leitrim Sculpture Centre
Located in the small town of Manorhamilton, north County Leitrim, the Leitrim Sculpture Centre support innovation and understanding in contemporary art by facilitating artists wishing to extend their practice or knowledge.

We provide opportunities through residencies, workshops, commissions, training and exhibitions and explore new ideas and processes within a range of community, educational and environmental contexts.

Historic Houses and Castles

Creevelea Friary
Built in 1508, the Friary’s well preserved ruins stand in romantic settings beside the River Bonet. In the ruins is a carving of Saint Francis preaching to the birds. It is located 16km south east of Sligo.

Costello Chapel
The Costello Memorial Chapel in Carrick-On-Shannon is the 2nd smallest chapel in the world. It was built in the 19th century by Costello in memory of his wife. Husband and wife now rest side by side in the beautiful memorial.

Parkes Castle
This seventeenth-century fortified manor house was originally the stronghold of the O’Rourke clan, rulers of the kingdom of Breffni. It has been beautifully restored using Irish Oak and traditional craftsmanship.

The Courtyard contains the foundations and features of an earlier defensive structure while another remnant of a bygone age is a traditional blacksmith forge of 17th century style.

A guided tour is provided every hour while an intriguing slide show, “Stone by stone” is available in four languages.

Access for visitors with disabilities to the group floor.

Visitor Farms

Drumkeerin Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre celebrates the history of this area. Here you can experience the beautifully reconstructed Irish cottage and farmyard, new additions to this is our coffee shop open since June 1999, also a resource centre which has photocopying and faxfacilities available.

The farmyard is located in a unique campus which draws inspiration from the magnificent rugged landscape, surrounding mountains, lakes and woods. Traditional sweat house, pig sty, old style garden, agricultural machinery and thatched cottage, and also old artifacts and craft shop.

Gardens

The Organic Centre
The Organic Centre promotes organic gardening and sustainable living through learning gardens, educational courses, tours and workshops and also community and school projects.

The aim of the centre is to provide training, information and advice on organic farming, gardening and sustainable ways of living.

Demonstration gardens contain a heritage garden, children’s garden, a herb garden, willow sculpture area, sunflower maze and many other attractions open to the public.

Great Famine Garden of Remembrance
The Great Famine Garden of Remembrance in Carrick-on-Shannon was opened by President Mary McAleese. Thousands of Leitrim people perished in the Great Famine and many of their graves were never identified. This community effort recalls and commemorates this bleak period in history. The Historical Society of Carrick – On – Shannon earmarked and restored a famine graveyard. They have recreated a wildlife preserve, planted native Irish trees and developed the entire grounds.

Glencar Waterfall is particularly impressive after rain and can be viewed from a lovely wooded walk. There are more waterfalls visible from the road, although none is quite as romantic as this one.

There are also on-site picnic facilities and an information kiosk.

Churches, Abbeys and Monasteries
Creevylea Abbey boasts a lovely, scenic location along the banks of the River Bonet, just outside the village of Dromahair in County Leitrim. It’s thought that the wife of Owen O’Rourke established the Franciscan monastery in 1508, though it survived little time, as Henry VIII called for the dissolution of the monasteries less than 30 years later.

The ruin comprises nave, choir, south transept and the bell tower, which was converted into living quarters in the 17th century. There is also a cloister that features interesting stone carvings, including one of St Francis of Assisi preaching to birds.